He looks like a reach and a use of dollars that can be better spent elsewhere.

A signing that we have no reason to expect much of, based on his production so far.

Dickson will probably be OK as a player but these kind of signings are pretty clear evidence that we aren't going to fix much in the FA signings our FO makes. Because guys like Dickson are not going to move the needle at all.

We will see how he looks once the actual games start but this is pretty underwhelming for a team that is left with gaping holes all over the place. To some extent he fills some of the hole, but with an average nobody-cares type of player that isn't going to come close to making up for what we lost in scoring.

Tight ends are ranked according to DYAR, or Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement. This gives the value of the performance on plays where this TE caught the ball, compared to a replacement-level TE in the same game situations and then translated into yardage.

kidhawk wrote:Jville posted the tweet with these stats, but I thought I'd put the full image in here for people to see. Although he had fewer targets and ran fewer routes (which makes sense with Greg Olsen being the main pass catching TE before his injury), Dickson has very comparable numbers to both Graham and ASJ with a lower salary and better Pass protection than either of them.

Also, I wouldn't make much of the drop rate. Dickson had two drops for the year. If he catches one of those, his drop rate is the best on this list. Small sample size and also "drops" are subjective.

Lot has been said about this. Looked up some of his combine info. That doesn't prove that he cannot block now but some of the other posts have stated this. The fact that he is good in pass protection in no way offsets his poor run blocking. Not really sure why so many here were so quick to say he was a good run blocker.

My hope is he is our TE2 and the FO has a plan for a blocking TE. Otherwise the run first mantra makes absolutely no sense. You have to have at the very least a mediocre run blocking TE to have a successful running game. Little down about this pickup unless he is a TE2 but even at that, does that properly endorse his contract?

I'll hold my tongue for now as I would like to see the end result of the off season.

One needs no other proof in knowing that Pro Football Focus is absolute tripe than this:

While Dickson has shown he can produce as a receiver his main niche has been as a blocker — Pro Football Focus rated him as the top pass-blocking tight end in the NFL last season, though he was 56th in run blocking (by comparison, Graham was rated 14th in pass blocking, 34th in run blocking).

Seahawks went with the more mature player further along in his development to urgently reset their offense. To my knowledge, there is nothing blocking Austin Seferian-Jenkins from developing and eventually appearing in a Seahawk uniform at some point down the road.

I'm no expert, but it seemed like Jimmy Graham would miss or just make some half-assed contact on opposing pass rushers and then try to get open. That made it too easy for defenses to keep track of him and make sure he didn't slip free. So it never really worked. If we have a TE that can actually engage and hold off pass rushers for a few seconds, then he should have an easier time slipping free and getting open for a pass if Russ's initial options are covered.

And even if he doesn't make big plays as a receiver, this team needs better pass blocking. I like the idea of having a veteran TE who can recognize what the defense is doing and help out since the TE is basically an extra blocker. Better pass blocking = more time for Russ to use his legs and make good things happen. The past couple years, seems like opposing DEs are constantly collapsing the pocket in a hurry, leaving no time and no room for Russ to do anything.

But what I don't understand is why he isn't rated higher as a run blocker. Was it the scheme he was in? Was he not called upon to help the run game very often? Is he decent at certain types of run blocks and not others? He certainly was part of some good running offenses in Carolina, but that's all I know. We definitely do need to be able to run the ball first and foremost.

CodeWarrior wrote:Does anyone else get the sense the Seattle is currently a rudderless ship? This signing makes no sense to me. Hope I'm wrong.

I for one am wondering what the heck they are doing. They are canceling out their Comp picks with these garbage signings as well. So its more like Dickson plus a 4th rounder plus his contract. Yuck.They better pray that some of their unsigned players start signing contracts soon with other teams.

Graham was horrible last year. Sure he caught touchdown passes. But he caught nothing else. He was disinterested all year, never gave any effort between the 20s, and it was time to move on. He will do good in Green Bay because they have a pass heavy offense. But he was never a fit for Seattle.

Dickson will be a good blocking Tight End, and beneficial for our young guys.

Why people keep resorting to hyperbole on contracts. 14 million! OMG!

There's only one number that matters in a contract, every play knows that when they sign, it's the guaranteed number. Everything else, meaningless.

You see inflated numbers all the time. Kaepernik! 16 million per year!! (zero guaranteed).

Player X, highest paid player in the NFL! (unless you look at the guarantees). Makes for a great headline though. Lotta clicks.

CodeWarrior wrote:Does anyone else get the sense the Seattle is currently a rudderless ship? This signing makes no sense to me. Hope I'm wrong.

I for one am wondering what the heck they are doing. They are canceling out their Comp picks with these garbage signings as well. So its more like Dickson plus a 4th rounder plus his contract. Yuck.They better pray that some of their unsigned players start signing contracts soon with other teams.

Comp picks are nice but you need actual players, 7th and 6th round picks rarely make the team, 3rd round picks are saying you let a good player go or whiffed on a pick.

Since we trade back a lot we will have few high round comp picks anyway.

I would rather have players here that can play then boost my Madden score.

fenderbender123 wrote:But what I don't understand is why he isn't rated higher as a run blocker. Was it the scheme he was in? Was he not called upon to help the run game very often? Is he decent at certain types of run blocks and not others? He certainly was part of some good running offenses in Carolina, but that's all I know. We definitely do need to be able to run the ball first and foremost.

Quite the opposite actually. He was a TE after all... He only pass blocked about 6 snaps per game. He run blocked a shitload more, as that is generally a TEs main job. In the passing game, most TEs chip a rusher and try to get open or swing outside for a dump off.

I like in this highlight that Dickson not only catches the ball on the run extemely well but he has balance and fights for yards after contact. Too many times Graham was awkward and fell over as soon as he caught the ball. Graham was north of 10 million a year and I didnt see the value. This guy will be even better with A great QB.

I'm a little confused why fans are looking at this signing negatively? Less than 5 mill per year, an actual TRADITIONAL TE. Something our offense has been missing since the departure of Zach Miller. . . If Ed does pan out as our starter, this signing has great value... In my opinion !

Also, look for us to draft a late round, athletic (Raw with high upside) TE for Dickson to mentor during their 1st year.

Dickson is no Miller and some of us really preferred to get someone who could run block above average. Maybe there just isn't any. Not everything is good or bad or black and white. I don't hate the signing but I still don't think we have improved at all in regards to the run game.

kidhawk wrote:Jville posted the tweet with these stats, but I thought I'd put the full image in here for people to see. Although he had fewer targets and ran fewer routes (which makes sense with Greg Olsen being the main pass catching TE before his injury), Dickson has very comparable numbers to both Graham and ASJ with a lower salary and better Pass protection than either of them.

Also, I wouldn't make much of the drop rate. Dickson had two drops for the year. If he catches one of those, his drop rate is the best on this list. Small sample size and also "drops" are subjective.

No big fancy plays, opposing defense wouldn't double team him, but hey, he gets the job done for us. I don't have high hopes and big expectations that our new OC can transform Dickson into an all pro TE, but Dickson is a willing blocker, can't say that about Graham, and seems to be quite sure handed. I am good with that.